The Eastern region government and prospecting oil companies considered the cost of exploring the oil and gas deposits onshore in the hinterlands higher than those of the riverine creeks of the Niger Delta. These “strategic reserves” remained untapped until the region was abolished by Col Gowon in May 1967 preempting Biafra. Then they carved all the developed oilfields into Rivers and Cross River states as it was called then and left none in the East Central state;the home state of the “Biafra rebels” leader. The federal government then confiscated the the ownership of oil deposits and every other minerals from the states after the war.If any firm want to explore oil,coal or any other essential mineral deposits,they will have to apply for licence from the FG.The proceeds from oil exploration goes to the FG. Then the FG created more states and LGAs and devised a revenue sharing formula that gives the FG 56%,states 24% and LGAs 20% of all revenues. Of the five states in the SE there are 95 LGAs but between just 3 out of 7 NW states of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa,there are 105 LGAs.Dont forget that revenue from oil is shared monthly between the FG,states and LGAs. I am trying to prove to you why a SE Development Commission would not help the region and it’s long suffering people.What the region needs is to take back its wealth stolen and squandered by the federal government since 1970. Take back the power to grant oil,coal and other minerals exploration licenses from the federal government and reject SEDC and other bribes. Demand a constitutional restructuring that would make FG return the powers they stole from the region/states. You cannot have “strategic reserves” of oil in Ebonyi,Enugu that is losing value everyday and partially explored reserves in Anambra,Abia and Imo while the FG has “spent about $340 million and additional N27 billion” looking for oil in the North.This is just one example using oil. This political structure was deliberately designed to keep all of us down.Demand your freedom by demanding a constitutional restructuring of Nigeria and not a development commission. To Receive Free News Updates, Add To Your WhatsApp: 08033857245; For Adverts Enquiries, Call 08083609209, To Publish Your Articles Or News Stories, Email editor@skytrendnews.com. ]]>